Exposure setting apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

There is provided an exposure setting apparatus. A display control unit performs control so that a coordinate system region which expresses a coordinate system including a first axis corresponding to an aperture value and a second axis corresponding to a shutter speed is displayed in a display unit. The display control unit performs control to add, to the coordinate system region, a visual gradation in which a tone value changes in the coordinate system region in a direction from a side where the aperture value is low and the shutter speed is slow to a side where the aperture value is high and the shutter speed is fast.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exposure setting apparatus, acontrol method thereof, and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

In a digital camera, control for appropriately setting the exposure atthe time of capturing an image of a subject is performed in line with aso-called image capturing intent, that is to say, what kind of image auser wishes to capture. For example, the user selects a mode, such as anaperture priority mode and a shutter speed priority mode, and sets theaperture amount or the shutter speed in accordance with the selectedmode. In a digital camera, along with the setting of the aperture amountor the shutter speed by the user, other setting values are decided onautomatically, and the exposure is decided on based on these settingvalues.

However, there has been a problem that a user who is not familiar withimage capturing cannot intuitively understand how other setting valueschange and the exposure is decided on as a result of changing a certainsetting value in these modes, and the user has a hard time mastering theuse. For example, in the shutter speed priority mode, if the shutterspeed is reduced in line with an image capturing intent of producing aphotograph showing the flowing water of a river, the aperture value isreduced (the aperture closes) and the depth of field increases inconsequence; as a result, background blurring is difficult to achieve.There has been a problem that a user who is not familiar with imagecapturing cannot understand this relationship, and has a hard timesetting a combination of the shutter speed, the aperture value, and thelike (exposure conditions) that is just right for an image capturingintent.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-96682 discloses display of a graphwith a horizontal axis representing the exposure period (shutter speed)and a vertical axis representing the aperture value, and presentation ofa recommended setting region that achieves an appropriate exposureperiod and an appropriate aperture value on this graph. A user can inputan appropriate exposure period and an appropriate aperture value bydesignating one point on the graph with reference to this recommendedsetting region.

However, with the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2007-96682, even if the user views a coordinate system region having twoaxes which correspond to the aperture value and shutter speed,respectively, it is not easy to intuitively understand the relationshipwhich the aperture value and the shutter speed have with the exposurelevel (the brightness).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been conceived in light of such circumstances.The present invention provides a technique which makes it possible for auser to intuitively understand a relationship which two exposure controlparameters, such as aperture value and shutter speed, have with anexposure level (brightness) in a coordinate system region having twoaxes which correspond to the two exposure control parameters.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is providedan exposure setting apparatus comprising: a display control unitconfigured to perform control so that a coordinate system region whichexpresses a coordinate system including a first axis corresponding to anaperture value and a second axis corresponding to a shutter speed isdisplayed in a display unit, wherein the display control unit performscontrol to add, to the coordinate system region, a visual gradation inwhich a tone value changes in the coordinate system region in adirection from a side where the aperture value is low and the shutterspeed is slow to a side where the aperture value is high and the shutterspeed is fast.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is providedan exposure setting apparatus comprising: a display control unitconfigured to perform control so that a coordinate system region whichexpresses a coordinate system including a first axis corresponding to afirst exposure control parameter and a second axis corresponding to asecond exposure control parameter is displayed in a display unit,wherein the display control unit performs control to add, to thecoordinate system region, a gradation which visually expresses adifference in exposure amount based on a difference in values of thefirst exposure control parameter and the second exposure controlparameter at each position in the coordinate system region.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda control method of an exposure setting apparatus, comprising:performing control so that a coordinate system region which expresses acoordinate system including a first axis corresponding to an aperturevalue and a second axis corresponding to a shutter speed is displayed ina display unit; and performing control to add, to the coordinate systemregion, a visual gradation in which a tone value changes in thecoordinate system region in a direction from a side where the aperturevalue is low and the shutter speed is slow to a side where the aperturevalue is high and the shutter speed is fast.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda control method of an exposure setting apparatus, comprising:performing control so that a coordinate system region which expresses acoordinate system including a first axis corresponding to a firstexposure control parameter and a second axis corresponding to a secondexposure control parameter is displayed in a display unit; andperforming control to add, to the coordinate system region, a gradationwhich visually expresses a difference in exposure amount based on adifference in values of the first exposure control parameter and thesecond exposure control parameter at each position in the coordinatesystem region.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda non-transitory computer-readable storage medium which stores a programfor causing a computer to execute a control method comprising:performing control so that a coordinate system region which expresses acoordinate system including a first axis corresponding to an aperturevalue and a second axis corresponding to a shutter speed is displayed ina display unit; and performing control to add, to the coordinate systemregion, a visual gradation in which a tone value changes in thecoordinate system region in a direction from a side where the aperturevalue is low and the shutter speed is slow to a side where the aperturevalue is high and the shutter speed is fast.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda non-transitory computer-readable storage medium which stores a programfor causing a computer to execute a control method comprising:performing control so that a coordinate system region which expresses acoordinate system including a first axis corresponding to a firstexposure control parameter and a second axis corresponding to a secondexposure control parameter is displayed in a display unit; andperforming control to add, to the coordinate system region, a gradationwhich visually expresses a difference in exposure amount based on adifference in values of the first exposure control parameter and thesecond exposure control parameter at each position in the coordinatesystem region.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital camera 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of thedigital camera 100.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are flowcharts showing the flow of the setting ofexposure conditions in a manual mode.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in a display unit28 in step S303.

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in the display unit28 through the processing from steps S312 to S314.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in the display unit28 through the processing of steps S324 and S325.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in the display unit28 through the processing of steps S329 and S330.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrams illustrating an example of a gradation 414.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are flowcharts illustrating a flow of setting exposureconditions in an auto shutter speed mode.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating details of shutter speeddetermination processing.

FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in the display unit28 through the processing of steps S324, S325, and S703.

FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed in the display unit28 through the processing of steps S329, S330, and S705.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference tothe attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intendedto limit the scope of the claimed invention. Multiple features aredescribed in the embodiments, but limitation is not made an inventionthat requires all such features, and multiple such features may becombined as appropriate. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the samereference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, andredundant description thereof is omitted.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows an external view of a digital camera 100 that serves as anexample of an exposure setting apparatus (electronic device) to whichthe present invention can be applied. A display unit 28 is a displayunit that displays images and various types of information. A shutterbutton 61 is an operation unit for issuing a shooting instruction. Amode changing switch 60 is an operation unit for switching among varioustypes of modes. A connector 112 is a connector between a connectioncable 111, which is intended to establish connection with an externaldevice, such as a personal computer and a printer, and the digitalcamera 100. An operation unit 70 is an operation unit that is composedof such operation members as various types of switches, buttons, and atouch panel that accept various types of operations from a user. Acontroller wheel 73 is an operation member that is included in theoperation unit 70 and can be operated by rotation. A power switch 72 isa push button for switching between power-ON and power-OFF. A recordingmedium 200 is a recording medium, such as a memory card and a hard disk.A recording medium slot 201 is a slot for storing the recording medium200. The recording medium 200 stored in the recording medium slot 201can communicate with the digital camera 100, and can perform recordingand reproduction. A cover 202 is a cover for the recording medium slot201. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the cover 202 is open, and a part ofthe recording medium 200 has been extracted from the recording mediumslot 201 and is exposed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of thedigital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, aphotographing lens 103 is a lens group including a zoom lens and afocusing lens. A shutter 101 is a shutter with an aperture function. Animage capturing unit 22 is an image sensor composed of, for example, aCCD or CMOS sensor that converts an optical image into an electricalsignal. An A/D converter 23 converts an analog signal into a digitalsignal. The A/D converter 23 is used to convert an analog signal outputfrom the image capturing unit 22 into a digital signal. A barrier 102covers an image capturing system of the digital camera 100, includingthe photographing lens 103, so as to prevent the image capturing systemincluding the photographing lens 103, the shutter 101, and the imagecapturing unit 22 from being soiled or damaged.

An image processing unit 24 performs predetermined pixel interpolation,resizing (e.g., reduction) processing, and color conversion processingwith respect to data from the A/D converter 23 or data from a memorycontrol unit 15. The image processing unit 24 also performspredetermined computational processing using captured image data. Basedon the computational result obtained by the image processing unit 24, asystem control unit 50 performs exposure control and range-findingcontrol. As a result, TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing,AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (preliminary flash emission)processing are performed. Furthermore, the image processing unit 24performs predetermined computational processing using captured imagedata, and performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on theobtained computational result.

Output data from the A/D converter 23 is written directly into a memory32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15, orvia the memory control unit 15. The memory 32 stores image data that hasbeen obtained by the image capturing unit 22 and converted into digitaldata by the A/D converter 23, and image data to be displayed on thedisplay unit 28. The memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient tostore a predetermined number of still images, as well as moving imagesand audio of a predetermined duration.

The memory 32 also functions as a memory for image display (videomemory). A D/A converter 13 converts data for image display stored inthe memory 32 into an analog signal, and supplies the analog signal tothe display unit 28. In this way, image data for display that has beenwritten into the memory 32 is displayed by the display unit 28 via theD/A converter 13. The display unit 28 performs display on a displaydevice, such as an LCD, in accordance with an analog signal from the D/Aconverter 13. Digital signals that have undergone the A/D conversion inthe A/D converter 23 and have been accumulated in the memory 32 areconverted into analog signals in the D/A converter 13, and then theanalog signals are sequentially transferred to and displayed on thedisplay unit 28; in this way, the display unit 28 functions as anelectronic viewfinder and can display through-the-lens images. Displayof through-the-lens images is also referred to as live-view display (LVdisplay). Hereinafter, images that are displayed in the form oflive-view are referred to as live-view images (LV images).

A nonvolatile memory 56 is a memory that serves as an electricallyerasable and recordable recording medium; for example, an EEPROM or thelike is used thereas. For example, constants and programs for theoperations of the system control unit 50 are stored in the nonvolatilememory 56. The programs mentioned here refer to computer programs forexecuting various types of flowcharts, which will be described later, inthe present embodiment.

The system control unit 50 is a control unit that includes at least oneprocessor or circuit, and controls the entirety of the digital camera100. The system control unit 50 realizes each processing of the presentembodiment, which will be described later, by executing a programrecorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 mentioned earlier. For example, aRAM is used as a system memory 52. Constants and variables for theoperations of the system control unit 50, programs that have been readout from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like are deployed to thesystem memory 52. The system control unit 50 also performs displaycontrol by controlling the memory 32, the D/A converter 13, the displayunit 28, and the like.

A system timer 53 is a time measurement unit that measures the timesused in various types of control and the time of a built-in clock.

The mode changing switch 60, the shutter button 61, and the operationunit 70 are operation units for inputting various types of operationalinstructions to the system control unit 50. The mode changing switch 60switches an operation mode of the system control unit 50 to one of astill image recording mode, a moving image shooting mode, a reproductionmode, and so on.

Examples of modes included in the still image recording mode are an autoshooting mode, an auto scene distinction mode, a manual mode, anaperture priority mode (Av mode), a shutter speed priority mode (Tvmode), and a program AE mode. Other examples are various types of scenemodes in which shooting settings are configured separately for eachshooting scene, and a custom mode. Using the mode changing switch 60,the user can switch directly to one of these modes. Alternatively, it ispermissible to first switch to a shooting mode list screen using themode changing switch 60, and then select one of a plurality of modesthat have been displayed and switch thereto using another operationmember. Likewise, the moving image shooting mode may also include aplurality of modes.

A first shutter switch 62 is turned ON and generates a first shutterswitch signal SW1 partway through an operation performed on the shutterbutton 61 provided in the digital camera 100, that is to say, when thebutton is depressed halfway (a shooting preparation instruction). Inresponse to the first shutter switch signal SW1, the system control unit50 starts the operations of AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automaticexposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF(preliminary flash emission) processing, and the like.

A second shutter switch 64 is turned ON and generates a second shutterswitch signal SW2 upon completion of the operation performed on theshutter button 61, that is to say, when the button is fully depressed (ashooting instruction). In response to the second shutter switch signalSW2, the system control unit 50 starts a series of operations ofshooting processing, from reading of signals from the image capturingunit 22 to writing of image data into the recording medium 200.

For example, performing an operation of selecting various types offunction icons displayed on the display unit 28 will assign functions tothe respective operation members of the operation unit 70 as appropriateon a scene-by-scene basis; as a result, the respective operation membersact as various types of function buttons. Examples of the functionbuttons include an end button, a return button, a next image button, ajump button, a refinement button, an attribute change button, and so on.For example, when a menu button is pressed, a menu screen on whichvarious types of settings can be configured is displayed on the displayunit 28. The user can configure various types of settings intuitivelyusing the menu screen displayed on the display unit 28, four directionalbuttons corresponding to up, down, left, and right, and a SET button.

The controller wheel 73 is an operation member that is included in theoperation unit 70 and can be operated by rotation, and is used togetherwith the directional buttons to, for example, issue an instructionregarding an item to be selected. When the controller wheel 73 isoperated by rotation, an electrical pulse signal is generated inaccordance with the amount of operation, and the system control unit 50controls each component of the digital camera 100 based on this pulsesignal. The angle by which the controller wheel 73 has been operated byrotation, how many times it has been rotated, and the like can bedetermined using this pulse signal. Note that the controller wheel 73may be any operation member as long as the rotational operation can bedetected. For example, it may be a dial operation member that allows thecontroller wheel 73 itself to rotate to generate the pulse signal inaccordance with the rotational operation performed by the user.Furthermore, it may be an operation member which is composed of a touchsensor, and which does not allow the controller wheel 73 itself torotate but detects a rotating motion and the like of the user's fingeron the controller wheel 73 (a so-called touch wheel).

A power control unit 80 is composed of, for example, a battery detectioncircuit, a DC-DC converter, and a switch circuit for switching among theblocks to which electric current is supplied, and detects whether abattery is loaded, the battery type, and the remaining battery power.The power control unit 80 also controls the DC-DC converter based on theresults of such detection and an instruction from the system controlunit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage for a necessary period to therespective components of the digital camera 100, including the recordingmedium 200. A power unit 30 is composed of a primary battery (e.g., analkaline battery and a lithium battery), a secondary battery (e.g., aNiCd battery, a NiMH battery, and a lithium-ion battery), an AC adapter,or the like.

A recording medium I/F 18 is an interface with the recording medium 200,which is a memory card, a hard disk, or the like. The recording medium200 is a recording medium, such as a memory card, for recording shotimages, and is composed of a semiconductor memory, an optical disc, amagnetic disk, or the like.

A communication unit 54 connects to an external device wirelessly or viaa wired cable, and transmits and receives video signals, audio signals,and the like. The communication unit 54 can also connect to a wirelessLAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet. Furthermore, thecommunication unit 54 can communicate with an external device also viaBluetooth® and Bluetooth Low Energy. The communication unit 54 cantransmit images captured by the image capturing unit 22 (including LVimages) and images recorded in the recording medium 200, and can alsoreceive image data and other various types of information from anexternal device.

An attitude detection unit 55 detects the attitude of the digital camera100 relative to the gravitational direction. Whether an image shot bythe image capturing unit 22 is an image that was shot with the digitalcamera 100 held horizontally or an image that was shot with the digitalcamera 100 held vertically can be distinguished based on the attitudedetected by the attitude detection unit 55. The system control unit 50can add orientation information corresponding to the attitude detectedby the attitude detection unit 55 to an image file of images captured bythe image capturing unit 22, record images in a rotated state, and soon. An acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like can be used asthe attitude detection unit 55. It is also possible to detect a motionof the digital camera 100 (e.g., whether the digital camera 100 ispanning, tilting, lifted, or stationary) using the acceleration sensoror the gyro sensor serving as the attitude detection unit 55.

Note that the digital camera 100 includes, as a part of the operationunit 70, a touch panel 70 a that is capable of detecting contact withthe display unit 28. As shown in FIG. 1, the touch panel 70 a and thedisplay unit 28 can be configured as an integrated unit. For example,the touch panel 70 a is configured to have a light transmittance thatdoes not interfere with display of the display unit 28, and is attachedto the top layer of the display surface of the display unit 28. Then,input coordinates of the touch panel 70 a are associated with displaycoordinates on a display screen of the display unit 28. This makes itpossible to provide a GUI (graphical user interface) in which the userseems capable of directly manipulating a screen displayed on the displayunit 28. The system control unit 50 can detect the following operationsor states with respect to the touch panel 70 a.

-   -   Newly touching the touch panel 70 a with a finger or a stylus        that had not been touching the touch panel 70 a. In other words,        this is the start of a touch (hereinafter referred to as a        “touch-down”).    -   A state in which a finger or a stylus is touching the touch        panel 70 a (hereinafter referred to as a “touch-on”).    -   Moving a finger or a stylus while it is touching the touch panel        70 a (hereinafter referred to as a “touch-move”).    -   Releasing a finger or a stylus that had been touching the touch        panel 70 a therefrom. In other words, this is the end of a touch        (hereinafter referred to as a “touch-up”).    -   A state in which nothing is touching the touch panel 70 a        (hereinafter referred to as a “touch-off”).

When a touch-down is detected, a touch-on is detected at the same time.A touch-on normally continues to be detected after a touch-down as longas no touch-up is detected. A touch-move being detected is also a statein which a touch-on is detected. Even if a touch-on is detected, atouch-move is not detected as long as the touched position does notmove. A touch-off occurs after a touch-up has been detected for allfingers or styluses that had been touching.

These operations/states, as well as the positional coordinates on thetouch panel 70 a where a finger or a stylus is touching, arecommunicated to the system control unit 50 through an internal bus. Thesystem control unit 50 determines what type of operation (touchoperation) has been made on the touch panel 70 a based on thecommunicated information. With respect to a touch-move, the movingdirection of a finger or a stylus moving on the touch panel 70 a canalso be determined, based on changes in the positional coordinates, foreach of a vertical component and a horizontal component on the touchpanel 70 a.

It is assumed that when a touch-move of a predetermined distance orlonger has been detected, it is determined that a slide operation hasbeen performed. An operation of rapidly moving a finger by a certaindistance while the finger is touching the touch panel 70 a and thenreleasing the finger therefrom is called a flick. In other words, aflick is a rapid tracing operation in which the touch panel 70 a isflicked with a finger. When a touch-up is detected directly afterdetection of a touch-move of a predetermined distance or longer and apredetermined speed or higher, it can be determined that a flick hasbeen performed (it can be determined that a flick has been performedfollowing a slide operation). Furthermore, in a case where a pluralityof locations (e.g., two points) are touched at the same time, a touchoperation of moving the touched positions closer to each other is calleda “pinch-in”, whereas a touch operation of moving the touched positionsapart from each other is called a “pinch-out”. A pinch-out and apinch-in are collectively referred to as pinch operations (or simply“pinch”).

Any of a variety of types of touch panels, such as a resistive filmtype, a capacitance type, a surface acoustic wave type, an infraredtype, an electromagnetic induction type, an image recognition type, andan optical sensor type, may be used as the touch panel 70 a. Dependingon the type, a touch is detected when contact is made with the touchpanel, or a touch is detected when a finger or a stylus has approachedthe touch panel; either of these types may be used.

Below is a detailed description of the setting of exposure conditionsusing the exposure setting apparatus (digital camera 100) of FIG. 1.First, a description is given of a case where the aperture value, theshutter speed, and the ISO sensitivity can be changed respectively andindependently, such as a case where the so-called “manual mode” (firstoperation mode) is set as an image capturing mode.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are a flowchart showing the flow of the setting ofexposure conditions in the manual mode using the exposure settingapparatus (digital camera 100) of FIG. 1. Processing of respective stepsof the present flowchart is realized as the system control unit 50 ofthe digital camera 100 deploys a processing program recorded in thenonvolatile memory 56 to the system memory 52 and executing theprocessing program, unless specifically stated otherwise. Processing ofthe present flowchart is started when a user turns ON the power of thedigital camera 100 and sets the manual mode as the image capturing mode.

In step S301, the system control unit 50 starts image capturing for LVdisplay under predetermined image capturing setting conditions, forexample, predetermined focus, exposure, white balance, aperture value,shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity. For example, various types ofconditions that were set before the power was turned OFF are restoredand used as the predetermined image capturing setting conditions; this,however, depends on the specification of the digital camera 100.

In step S302, the system control unit 50 performs LV display bydisplaying the video that is being captured by the image capturing unit22 on the display unit 28 (touch display).

In step S303, the system control unit 50 displays, in the display unit28 (the touch display), a coordinate system in which the vertical axisrepresents the aperture value and the horizontal axis represents theshutter speed. FIG. 4A illustrates a screen displayed in the displayunit 28 in step S303. 401 indicates a live view display, 402 indicates acoordinate system region, 403 indicates a shutter speed display, 404indicates an aperture display, 405 indicates an ISO sensitivity display,and 406 indicates an exposure level display. Note that the numbers orscale positions indicated by reference numerals 403, 404, 405, and 406are merely examples for illustrating the appearances thereof, are do notexpress actual numerical values used in the embodiments.

In step S305, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not theuser has performed an operation for changing the ISO sensitivity using apredetermined operating member in the operating unit 70. If it isdetermined that an operation for changing the ISO sensitivity has beenmade, the sequence moves to step S306, and if not, the sequence moves tostep S308. The “predetermined operating member” mentioned here is, forexample, a button, a control wheel, a combination of the two, or thelike. For example, an operation in which the user rotates the controlwheel while holding down a predetermined button can be interpreted as anoperation for changing the ISO sensitivity.

In step S306, the system control unit 50 changes the ISO sensitivitysetting value in accordance with the content of the operation forchanging the ISO sensitivity (e.g., a direction in and amount by whichthe predetermined operating member has been operated). Here, the “ISOsensitivity setting value” refers to the setting value used for mainshooting. The ISO sensitivity value used for LV display image capturingis not necessarily identical to the setting value used for mainshooting. In the following descriptions, a “setting value” mentionedwith respect to exposure control parameters such as the aperture value,the shutter speed, and the ISO sensitivity is assumed to refer to thevalue set as a value for the exposure control parameters used in mainshooting. The system control unit 50 can obtain the setting values ofthe exposure control parameters used in the previous instance of mainshooting as the initial (e.g., at the start of the processingillustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 3A) setting values for the exposurecontrol parameters, from the nonvolatile memory 56, for example.

In step S307, the system control unit 50 adjusts the display quality ofthe live view display so that the live view is displayed with goodvisibility, even when using the changed ISO sensitivity. The sequencethen returns to step S304.

On the other hand, in step S308, the system control unit 50 determineswhether a photometry instruction has been made as a result of, forexample, the user pressing the shutter button 61 halfway (an imagecapturing preparation instruction). If it is determined that aphotometry instruction has been made, the sequence moves to step S309,and if not, the sequence moves to step S319.

In step S309, the system control unit 50 performs photometry formeasuring the brightness of the subject (subject luminance). In stepS310, the system control unit 50 starts a photometry timer T1. Thephotometry timer T1 is a timer for measuring the time for which tocontinue photometry for a predetermined amount of time following thephotometry instruction.

In step S311, the system control unit 50 uses a known AE (automaticexposure) processing algorithm to calculate a plurality of combinationsof aperture value and shutter speed corresponding to a proper exposuredetermined on the basis of the ISO sensitivity setting value and thesubject luminance.

In step S312, the system control unit 50 displays a line segment, whichcorresponds to the plurality of combinations calculated in step S311, asa linear indicator in the coordinate system region 402. In step S313,the system control unit 50 displays, in the coordinate system region402, a pointer in a position corresponding to the current combination ofsetting values for the aperture value and the shutter speed. In stepS314, the system control unit 50 adds, to the coordinate system region402, a visual gradation in which a tone value changes in the coordinatesystem region 402 in the direction from the side where the aperturevalue is low and the shutter speed is slow to the side where theaperture value is high and the shutter speed is fast.

FIG. 4B illustrates a screen displayed in the display unit 28 throughthe processing from steps S312 to S314. 412 indicates the linearindicator, 413 indicates the pointer, and 414 indicates the gradation.In the example illustrated in FIG. 4B, the background of the coordinatesystem region 402 (the gradation 414 added to the coordinate systemregion 402) is expressed with a tone change in which the brightness ofan achromatic gray color darkens toward the upper-right and lightenstoward the lower-left. This is done to provide an effect of enabling theuser to intuitively understand that the exposure level decreases(becomes darker) as the pointer 413 moves closer to the upper-right ofthe coordinate system region 402 and increases (becomes lighter) as thepointer 413 moves to the lower-left of the coordinate system region 402.As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the gradation 414 is configured so that thetone values are substantially identical for coordinates of combinationsof aperture value and shutter speed at which the exposure level is thesame, but it is not necessary to employ this exact configuration.

Note that on the basis of the ISO sensitivity setting value and thesubject luminance, the system control unit 50 may determine acorrespondence relationship which a tone value in the gradation 414 haswith the aperture value and the shutter speed. In this case, the usercan more accurately understand the relationship which the aperture valueand shutter speed have with the exposure level (brightness). Forexample, the system control unit 50 may express a position in thecoordinate system region 402 corresponding to the proper exposuredetermined on the basis of the ISO sensitivity setting value and thesubject luminance (i.e., a position of the linear indicator 412) as atone value which is approximately 50% of the gradation 414 (ahalf-tone). In this case, the user can more intuitively understand theposition of the proper exposure.

Note that the linear indicator 412 (a first indicator) may be a linewith a width, may include curves or polygonal lines, may be given apattern, and so on. The pointer 413 (a second indicator) may be given agraphic, a pattern, or the like as well. In the example illustrated inFIG. 4B, the linear indicator 412 is a continuous line segment, and thushas an appearance of connecting the positions, in the coordinate systemregion 402, of the plurality of combinations of the aperture value andshutter speed corresponding to the proper exposure. However, instead ofan indicator that connects these positions, discrete (non-continuous)indices which do not connect these positions may be used.

In step S315, the system control unit 50 determines whether an imagecapturing instruction has been made by the user pressing the shutterbutton 61 or the like. If it is determined that an image capturinginstruction has been made, the sequence moves to step S316, and if not,the sequence moves to step S317.

In step S316, the system control unit 50 captures an image using thecurrent setting values for the aperture value, the shutter speed, andthe ISO sensitivity.

In step S317, the system control unit 50 determines whether thephotometry timer T1 has passed a predetermined amount of time. If it isdetermined that the predetermined amount of time has passed, thesequence moves to step S318, and if not, the sequence moves to stepS320.

In step S318, the system control unit 50 hides the linear indicator 412,the pointer 413, and the gradation 414 in the coordinate system region402. In step S319, the system control unit 50 determines whether an endcondition, such as the power being turned off, is satisfied. If it isdetermined that the end condition is satisfied, the sequence of theflowchart ends, and if not, the sequence returns to step S305.

If in step S317 it is determined that the photometry timer T1 has notpassed the predetermined amount of time, in step S320, the systemcontrol unit 50 determines whether the background of the coordinatesystem region 402 (the gradation 414) has been touched by the user. Ifit is determined that the background has been touched by the user, thesequence moves to step S321, and if not, the sequence moves to stepS327.

In step S321, the system control unit 50 determines whether the user hasperformed a touch-move. If it is determined that the user has performeda touch-move, the sequence moves to step S322, and if not, the sequencemoves to step S326.

In step S322, the system control unit 50 changes the ISO sensitivitysetting value in accordance with the movement amount of the touch-move(a slide operation) in a diagonal direction (the direction in which thetone value changes in the gradation 414). To be more specific, if theslide operation of the touch has a movement component progressing towardthe lower-left side (the side of the coordinate system region 402 wherethe aperture value is low and the shutter speed is slow), the systemcontrol unit 50 reduces the ISO sensitivity setting value. On the otherhand, if the slide operation of the touch has a movement componentprogressing toward the upper-right side (the side of the coordinatesystem region 402 where the aperture value is high and the shutter speedis fast), the system control unit 50 increases the ISO sensitivitysetting value.

In step S324, the system control unit 50 moves the gradation 414 inaccordance with the post-change ISO sensitivity setting value. In stepS325, the system control unit 50 moves the display position of thelinear indicator 412 in accordance with the post-change ISO sensitivitysetting value.

FIG. 5A illustrates a screen displayed in the display unit 28 throughthe processing of steps S324 and S325, and corresponds to a result ofthe user performing an operation for changing the ISO sensitivity byperforming a touch-move in the gradation 414. In this case, the positionof the pointer 413 does not move, and thus the brightness of thebackground changes at the position of the pointer 413. Accordingly, theuser can intuitively understand that the exposure level changes due tothe ISO sensitivity being changed.

A situation where the user performs an operation for changing the ISOsensitivity in the manual mode is a situation where the user changesonly the exposure level, without changing the aperture value (depth offield) or shutter speed, in order to take a photo in which, for example,the water of a river is flowing with a desired background blurriness. Insuch a situation, the user can graphically confirm that (although theexposure level will change) the shutter speed and aperture value willnot change in response to the ISO sensitivity being changed, and theuser can therefore perform operations for setting the exposure withpeace of mind.

Note that the example illustrated in FIG. 5A corresponds to a case wherethe ISO sensitivity setting value has been changed so as to increase,and thus the gradation 414 has moved toward the upper-right, as comparedto FIG. 5B. However, if the ISO sensitivity setting value has beenchanged so as to decrease, the gradation 414 moves toward thelower-left, as compared to FIG. 5B.

In step S326, the system control unit 50 determines whether the user hasperformed a touch-up. If it is determined that a touch-up has beenperformed by the user, the sequence moves to step S315, and if not, thesequence moves to step S321.

If it is determined in step S320 that the user has not touched thebackground of the coordinate system region 402 (the gradation 414), instep S327, the system control unit 50 determines whether the user hasperformed an operation for changing the ISO sensitivity using thepredetermined operating member in the operating unit 70. If it isdetermined that an operation for changing the ISO sensitivity has beenmade, the sequence moves to step S328, and if not, the sequence returnsto step S315.

In step S328, the system control unit 50 changes the ISO sensitivitysetting value in accordance with the content of the operation forchanging the ISO sensitivity (e.g., a direction in and amount by whichthe predetermined operating member has been operated). In step S329, thesystem control unit 50 moves the gradation 414 in accordance with thepost-change ISO sensitivity setting value. In step S330, the systemcontrol unit 50 moves the display position of the linear indicator 412in accordance with the post-change ISO sensitivity setting value.

FIG. 5B illustrates a screen displayed in the display unit 28 throughthe processing of steps S329 and S330, and corresponds to a result ofthe user performing an operation for changing the ISO sensitivity byperforming an operation aside from touching the gradation 414, such asoperating the predetermined operating member in the operating unit 70.As in FIG. 5A, in FIG. 5B, the position of the gradation 414 moves, butthe position of the pointer 413 does not move, and thus the brightnessof the background changes at the position of the pointer 413. Thus inthis case as well, the user can intuitively understand that the exposurelevel changes due to the ISO sensitivity being changed.

Next, an example of the visual gradation 414 in which a tone valuechanges in the direction from the lower-left toward the upper-right ofthe coordinate system region 402 (from the side where the aperture valueis low and the shutter speed is slow to the side where the aperturevalue is high and the shutter speed is fast) will be described withreference to FIGS. 6A to 6C. FIG. 6A illustrates an example of agradation in which the brightness changes gradually in the directionfrom the lower-left toward the upper-right of the coordinate systemregion 402. FIG. 6B illustrates an example of a gradation in which thesaturation changes gradually in the direction from the lower-left towardthe upper-right of the coordinate system region 402. FIG. 6C illustratesan example of a gradation, expressed by a plurality of dots, in whichthe dot density (the density of the dots) changes gradually in thedirection from the lower-left toward the upper-right of the coordinatesystem region 402. Thus the gradation 414 is not limited to a specificformat, and any desired visual gradation can be used.

A case where the shutter speed is automatically determined on the basisof setting values for other exposure control parameters including theISO sensitivity, such as a case where the image capturing mode is set toan auto shutter speed mode, will be described next. In the auto shutterspeed mode (a second operation mode), the aperture value setting valueand the ISO sensitivity setting value can be changed independentlythrough user operations, and the shutter speed setting value is changedautomatically in response to the aperture value setting value or the ISOsensitivity setting value being changed.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are flowcharts illustrating the flow of exposureconditions settings in the auto shutter speed mode, made using theexposure setting apparatus (digital camera 100) illustrated in FIG. 1.Unless otherwise specified, the processes in each step of theseflowcharts are realized by the system control unit 50 of the digitalcamera 100 executing processing programs recorded in the nonvolatilememory 56 and loaded into the system memory 52. In FIGS. 7A to 7C, stepsthat perform processes identical or similar to those in FIGS. 3A to 3Care given the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 3A to 3C. Theprocessing of these flowcharts starts when the digital camera 100 ispowered on by the user and the image capturing mode is set to the autoshutter speed mode.

In step S701, the system control unit 50 performs processing fordetermining the shutter speed setting value on the basis of the currentssetting values for the aperture value and the ISO sensitivity, and onthe basis of the subject luminance (shutter speed determinationprocessing).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating details of the shutter speeddetermination processing. In step S801, the system control unit 50determines the proper exposure on the basis of the ISO sensitivitysetting value and the subject luminance. The system control unit 50 thendetermines the shutter speed setting value on the basis of the currentaperture value setting value so that the combination of the aperturevalue setting value and shutter speed setting value correspond to theproper exposure.

In step S802, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not thedetermined shutter speed setting value exceeds an upper limit value forthe shutter speed (e.g., 1/8000 second) defined by the specifications ofthe digital camera 100 (whether or not the shutter speed is faster thanan upper limit value). If the determined shutter speed setting valueexceeds the upper limit value, the sequence moves to step S803, wherethe system control unit 50 sets the shutter speed to the same value asthe upper limit value. If the determined shutter speed does not exceedthe upper limit value, the sequence moves to step S804.

In step S804, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not thedetermined shutter speed setting value is below a lower limit value forthe shutter speed (e.g., 30 seconds) defined by the specifications ofthe digital camera 100 (whether or not the shutter speed is slower thana lower limit value). If the determined shutter speed setting value islower than the lower limit value, the sequence moves to step S805, wherethe system control unit 50 sets the shutter speed to the same value asthe lower limit value. If the determined shutter speed setting value isnot lower than the lower limit value, the shutter speed determinationprocessing ends.

After the processing of step S803 or step S805, in step S806, the systemcontrol unit 50 changes the ISO sensitivity setting value on the basisof the post-change shutter speed setting value so as to maintain theproper exposure. The shutter speed determination processing then ends.

The processing of steps S311 and on in FIG. 7B is carried out after theshutter speed determination processing ends. The processing of stepsS311 to S314 in FIG. 7B is the same as in the case of the manual mode(steps S311 to S314 in FIG. 3B). However, the shutter speed settingvalue used in the case of FIG. 7B is the value automatically determinedthrough the shutter speed determination processing illustrated in FIG.8. Additionally, the ISO sensitivity setting value used in the case ofFIG. 7B may have been changed in step S806 of FIG. 8.

The processing of steps S702 and S704 in FIG. 7C is the same as theprocessing in step S701 in FIG. 7B. The processing of steps S324 to S325and S329 to S330 in FIG. 7C is the same as in the case of the manualmode (steps S324 to S325 and steps S329 to S330 in FIG. 3C). However,the ISO sensitivity setting value used in the case of FIG. 7C may havebeen changed in step S806 of FIG. 8.

In steps S703 and S705 in FIG. 7C, the system control unit 50 moves thedisplay position of the pointer 413 in accordance with the post-changeshutter speed setting value (the shutter speed setting value determinedin step S702 or step S704). In other words, the display position of thepointer 413 after the movement indicates a position, in the coordinatesystem region 402, of the combination of the aperture value settingvalue and the post-change shutter speed setting value.

FIG. 9A illustrates a screen displayed in the display unit 28 throughthe processing of steps S324, S325, and S703, and corresponds to aresult of the user performing an operation for changing the ISOsensitivity by performing a touch-move in the gradation 414. In thiscase, the position of the pointer 413 moves parallel to the horizontalaxis of the coordinate system region 402 in accordance with the movementof the gradation 414. The brightness of the gradation 414 at the pre-and post-movement positions of the pointer 413 is the same. Accordingly,the user can intuitively understand that the shutter speed changes,without the exposure level changing, due to the ISO sensitivity beingchanged.

A situation where the user performs an operation for changing the ISOsensitivity in the auto shutter speed mode is a situation where the userwishes to reduce the shutter speed (make the shutter speed slower) whilekeeping the same exposure level, aperture value (depth of field), and soon, in order to take a photo in which, for example, the water of a riveris flowing. A situation where the user wishes to increase the shutterspeed (make the shutter speed faster) for image stabilization, shootinga moving object so that the object appears at rest, and so on alsocorresponds to such a situation. In such a situation, the user cangraphically confirm that a desired shutter speed can be obtained bychanging the ISO sensitivity, and thus the exposure conditions can beset with good operability.

FIG. 9B illustrates a screen displayed in the display unit 28 throughthe processing of steps S329, S330, and S705. FIG. 9B corresponds to aresult of the user performing an operation for changing the ISOsensitivity by performing an operation aside from touching the gradation414, such as operating the predetermined operating member in theoperating unit 70. In FIG. 9B as well, the position of the pointer 413moves parallel to the horizontal axis of the coordinate system region402 in accordance with the movement of the gradation 414, and thebrightness of the gradation 414 at the at the pre- and post-movementpositions of the pointer 413 is the same. Accordingly, the user canintuitively understand that the shutter speed changes, without theexposure level changing, due to the ISO sensitivity being changed.

FIGS. 7A to 9B illustrate a case of an image capturing mode in which theshutter speed is automatically determined on the basis of setting valuesfor other exposure control parameters including the ISO sensitivity (theauto shutter speed mode). However, the present embodiment can also beapplied to an image capturing mode in which the aperture value isdetermined automatically on the basis of setting values for otherexposure control parameters including the ISO sensitivity (an autoaperture value mode). In the auto aperture value mode (a third operationmode), the shutter speed setting value and the ISO sensitivity settingvalue can be changed independently through user operations, and theaperture value setting value is changed automatically in response to theshutter speed setting value or the ISO sensitivity setting value beingchanged. In this case, “shutter speed” and “aperture value” are changedas necessary in the descriptions given with reference to FIGS. 7A to 9B.For example, in step S801 of FIG. 8, the system control unit 50determines the aperture value setting value on the basis of the currentshutter speed setting value so that the combination of the aperturevalue setting value and shutter speed setting value correspond to theproper exposure. Additionally, in steps S703 and S705 in FIG. 7C, thesystem control unit 50 moves the display position of the pointer 413 inaccordance with the post-change aperture value setting value (theaperture value setting value determined in step S702 or step S704).

As described thus far, according to the first embodiment, the digitalcamera 100 displays the coordinate system region 402 expressing acoordinate system including a first axis corresponding to an aperturevalue and a second axis corresponding to a shutter speed. Then, thedigital camera 100 adds, to the coordinate system region 402, the visualgradation 414 in which a tone value changes in the coordinate systemregion 402 in the direction from the side where the aperture value islow and the shutter speed is slow to the side where the aperture valueis high and the shutter speed is fast. Through this, the user canintuitively understand a relationship which two exposure controlparameters, such as aperture value and shutter speed, have with anexposure level (brightness) in a coordinate system region having twoaxes which correspond to the two exposure control parameters.

The foregoing describes a case where two exposure control parameters (afirst exposure control parameter and a second exposure controlparameter) corresponding to two axes of the coordinate system region 402are the aperture value and the shutter speed, respectively. However, inthe present embodiment, the combination of the two exposure controlparameters is not limited to the aperture value and the shutter speed.For example, any two of the aperture value, the shutter speed, and theISO sensitivity can be selected as the two exposure control parameterscorresponding to the two axes in the coordinate system region 402. Inthis case, generally speaking, the system control unit 50 may add, tothe coordinate system region, a gradation which visually expresses adifference in exposure amount based on a difference in the values of thefirst exposure control parameter and the second exposure controlparameter at each position in the coordinate system region.

Note that various types of control that have been described above asbeing performed by the system control unit 50 may be performed by oneitem of hardware, or a plurality of items of hardware (e.g., a pluralityof processors and circuits) may share processing to control the entireapparatus.

Furthermore, although the present invention has been described in detailbased on its preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limitedto such a specific embodiment, and the present invention encompasses avariety of modes that do not depart from the essential spirit of thisinvention. In addition, the foregoing embodiment merely represents oneembodiment of the present invention, and different embodiments may becombined where appropriate.

Also, the foregoing embodiment has been described in relation to thecase where the exposure setting apparatus is the digital camera.However, the foregoing embodiment is also applicable to, for example, anexposure measurement device that measures the brightness of a subjectdesired by the user and calculates preferred exposure conditions, aremote controller that remotely controls an image capturing apparatus,and so forth. The foregoing embodiment is also applicable to a digitalvideo camera, a digital single-lens camera, a mobile informationterminal, a tablet PC, a mobile telephone, and other exposure settingapparatuses that can set exposure conditions. The foregoing embodimentis further applicable to a personal computer, a PDA, a mobile telephoneterminal, a mobile image viewer, a display-equipped printer apparatus, adigital picture frame, a music player, a game device, an electronic bookreader, and so forth.

Also, the present invention is applicable not only to an image capturingapparatus itself, but also to a control apparatus that communicates withan image capturing apparatus (including a network camera) via wired orwireless communication and remotely controls the image capturingapparatus.

Apparatuses that remotely control an image capturing apparatus include,for example, such apparatuses as a smartphone, a tablet PC, and adesktop PC. An image capturing apparatus can be remotely controlled by acontrol apparatus notifying the image capturing apparatus of a commandthat causes various types of operations and settings to be made based onoperations performed in the control apparatus and processing performedin the control apparatus. Furthermore, live-view images shot by an imagecapturing apparatus may be received via wired or wireless communicationand displayed on a control apparatus.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2019-147958, filed Aug. 9, 2019 which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An exposure setting apparatus comprising at leastone processor and/or at least one circuit which functions as: a displaycontrol unit configured to perform control so that a coordinate systemregion which expresses a coordinate system including a first axiscorresponding to an aperture value and a second axis corresponding to ashutter speed is displayed in a display unit; and an obtaining unitconfigured to obtain an ISO sensitivity setting value, an aperture valuesetting value, and a shutter speed setting value, wherein the displaycontrol unit performs control to add, to the coordinate system region, avisual gradation in which a tone value changes in the coordinate systemregion in a direction from a side where the aperture value is low andthe shutter speed is slow to a side where the aperture value is high andthe shutter speed is fast, the display control unit: controls thegradation to move to the side where the aperture value is low and theshutter speed is slow in the coordinate system region, when a useroperation for reducing the ISO sensitivity setting value has been made,and controls the gradation to move to the side where the aperture valueis high and the shutter speed is fast in the coordinate system region,when a user operation for increasing the ISO sensitivity setting valuehas been made, the display control unit performs control so as todisplay, in the display unit, an indicator indicating a position, in thecoordinate system region, of a combination of the aperture value settingvalue and the shutter speed setting value, and when the ISO sensitivitysetting value has been changed in a second operation mode in which theaperture value setting value and the ISO sensitivity setting value canbe changed independently through user operations and the shutter speedsetting value is changed automatically in response to a change in theaperture value setting value or the ISO sensitivity setting value, thedisplay control unit controls a display position of the indicator tomove with the gradation so that the display position of the indicatorafter the movement indicates a position, in the coordinate systemregion, of the aperture value setting value and the changed shutterspeed setting value.
 2. The exposure setting apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one processor and/or at least one circuitfurther functions as: a detecting unit configured to detect a touch madeon the display unit; and a changing unit configured to reduce the ISOsensitivity setting value when a slide operation of a touch made on thegradation and having a movement component progressing toward the sidewhere the aperture value is low and the shutter speed is slow in thecoordinate system region has been detected, and increase the ISOsensitivity setting value when a slide operation of a touch made on thegradation and having a movement component progressing toward the sidewhere the aperture value is high and the shutter speed is fast in thecoordinate system region has been detected.
 3. The exposure settingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining unit furtherobtains a subject luminance, and the display control unit performscontrol so as to determine a correspondence relationship which theaperture value and the shutter speed have with the tone value of thegradation on the basis of the ISO sensitivity setting value and thesubject luminance.
 4. The exposure setting apparatus according to claim3, wherein the display control unit performs control so that a positionin the coordinate system region which corresponds to a proper exposuredetermined on the basis of the ISO sensitivity setting value and thesubject luminance is expressed by a half-tone of the gradation.
 5. Theexposure setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the ISOsensitivity setting value has been changed in a first operation mode inwhich the aperture value setting value, the shutter speed setting value,and the ISO sensitivity setting value can be changed independentlythrough user operations, the display control unit performs control sothat a display position of the indicator does not move while thegradation moves.
 6. The exposure setting apparatus according to claim 1,wherein when the ISO sensitivity setting value has been changed in athird operation mode in which the shutter speed setting value and theISO sensitivity setting value can be changed independently through useroperations and the aperture value setting value is changed automaticallyin response to a change in the shutter speed setting value or the ISOsensitivity setting value, the display control unit controls a displayposition of the indicator to move with the gradation so that the displayposition of the indicator after the movement indicates a position, inthe coordinate system region, of the shutter speed setting value and thechanged aperture value setting value.
 7. The exposure setting apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the display control unit performs controlto add the gradation to the coordinate system region by causing abrightness or saturation of the coordinate system region to change inthe coordinate system region in the direction from the side where theaperture value is low and the shutter speed is slow to the side wherethe aperture value is high and the shutter speed is fast.
 8. Theexposure setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displaycontrol unit performs control to add the gradation to the coordinatesystem region by displaying, in the coordinate system region, aplurality of dots so that a density of the dots changes in thecoordinate system region in the direction from the side where theaperture value is low and the shutter speed is slow to the side wherethe aperture value is high and the shutter speed is fast.
 9. A controlmethod of an exposure setting apparatus, comprising: performing controlso that a coordinate system region which expresses a coordinate systemincluding a first axis corresponding to an aperture value and a secondaxis corresponding to a shutter speed is displayed in a display unit;obtaining an ISO sensitivity setting value, an aperture value settingvalue, and a shutter speed setting value; performing control to add, tothe coordinate system region, a visual gradation in which a tone valuechanges in the coordinate system region in a direction from a side wherethe aperture value is low and the shutter speed is slow to a side wherethe aperture value is high and the shutter speed is fast; controllingthe gradation to move to the side where the aperture value is low andthe shutter speed is slow in the coordinate system region, when a useroperation for reducing the ISO sensitivity setting value has been made,and controlling the gradation to move to the side where the aperturevalue is high and the shutter speed is fast in the coordinate systemregion, when a user operation for increasing the ISO sensitivity settingvalue has been made; controlling to display an indicator indicating aposition, in the coordinate system region, of a combination of theaperture value setting value and the shutter speed setting value, andwhen the ISO sensitivity setting value has been changed in a secondoperation mode in which the aperture value setting value and the ISOsensitivity setting value can be changed independently through useroperations and the shutter speed setting value is changed automaticallyin response to a change in the aperture value setting value or the ISOsensitivity setting value, controlling a display position of theindicator to move with the gradation so that the display position of theindicator after the movement indicates a position, in the coordinatesystem region, of the aperture value setting value and the changedshutter speed setting value.
 10. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium which stores a program for causing a computer to executea control method comprising: performing control so that a coordinatesystem region which expresses a coordinate system including a first axiscorresponding to an aperture value and a second axis corresponding to ashutter speed is displayed in a display unit; obtaining an ISOsensitivity setting value, an aperture value setting value, and ashutter speed setting value; performing control to add, to thecoordinate system region, a visual gradation in which a tone valuechanges in the coordinate system region in a direction from a side wherethe aperture value is low and the shutter speed is slow to a side wherethe aperture value is high and the shutter speed is fast; controllingthe gradation to move to the side where the aperture value is low andthe shutter speed is slow in the coordinate system region, when a useroperation for reducing the ISO sensitivity setting value has been made,and controlling the gradation to move to the side where the aperturevalue is high and the shutter speed is fast in the coordinate systemregion, when a user operation for increasing the ISO sensitivity settingvalue has been made; controlling to display an indicator indicating aposition, in the coordinate system region, of a combination of theaperture value setting value and the shutter speed setting value, andwhen the ISO sensitivity setting value has been changed in a secondoperation mode in which the aperture value setting value and the ISOsensitivity setting value can be changed independently through useroperations and the shutter speed setting value is changed automaticallyin response to a change in the aperture value setting value or the ISOsensitivity setting value, controlling a display position of theindicator to move with the gradation so that the display position of theindicator after the movement indicates a position, in the coordinatesystem region, of the aperture value setting value and the changedshutter speed setting value.